...at Hilton Dubai Jumeirah UAE from 18th to 22nd May 2008

The Management School London and TMS International Dubai are pleased to offer the Strategic Public Relations Master Class Programme to be held at Hilton Dubai Jumeirah from 18th to 22nd May 2008

We have the pleasure in inviting you and your colleagues to attend. The aim of the programme is to provide Directors of Public Relations, Public Relations managers, Chief Press Secretaries, Media Managers, Corporate Affairs Managers and public Affairs Executives. Invitation has been extended to Public Relations Practitioners around the gulf region and beyond.

The Programme will be led by Peter Walker, Past President of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations Britain and a World Class trainer in Public Relations Practice and Mike Okereke , Past Council member of International Public Relations (IPRA), Past President the Federation of African Public Relations Association (FAPRA) and 2006 International Public Relations Award winner for lifetime achievement instituted by the Public Relations Society of America.

Participants will have a one day field trip to Dubai tourist attractions. Dubai is a tourist delight.

The Course details and fees are stated below. 
We look forward to welcoming you and other Public Relations Practitioners to the Programme.

With best wishes,
Yours faithfully,
Peter Walker & Mike Okereke
Course Directors/Senior Consultants
Strategic Public Relations Master Class Programme.

Ghana is to host the 21st conference of the Federation of African Public Relations Associations (FAPRA) from April 28 to May 2, 2008 at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Kumasi.

The five-day conference, themed: "Corporate Social responsibility-Global Trends and Public Relations Implications", will be hosted by the Institute of Public Relations Ghana (IPR-G), in collaboration with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Information and Diasporan Relations.

In an interview with the media, Mr. J. Allotey-Pappoe, President of FAPRA explained that, "the objective of the conference is to provide a platform for an elaborate clarification of the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility, as related to Corporate Social Investment, from a Global Perspective".

He pointed out that, the conference would also afford African Public Relations practitioners and Social Partners the opportunity to examine and critically evaluate professional public relations implications of corporate investment.

Furthermore, "the conference would equip participants with modern tools and techniques in public relations, as well as forge a common position on the role of PR practitioners in dealing with Corporate Social Investment", Mr Allotey-Pappoe emphasized.

A conference outline released in Accra by IPR-G, indicates that the theme has two segments - Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Social Investment - with sub themes, covering such areas as Global Trends in Corporate Investment and Social Practices, Case Studies in Africa, Public relations Implications as well as Modern Communication tools and Technologies.

Giving a broader outline of the Conference, Mr Kojo Yankah, President of IPR-Ghana, said the two segments under the main theme would deal with issues related to socio-economic and moral responsibilities of companies, compliance with requirements of business and professional practices, and societal problems related to Health, Education, Housing, Job Creation, among others.

Mr Yankah hinted that former United Nations Secretary-General, Musumura Kofi Annan has been invited to deliver the key-note address, with submission of major dissertations coming from the World Bank, United Nations, African Development Bank, ECOWAS, Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African Union (AU).

On participation, he said, aside FAPRA members and various Public Relations Associations, there will be representation from Journalists Associations, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and a number of corporate bodies like MTN, Banks, Oil and Mining Companies, Civil Society Organizations as well as Marketing and Advertising Companies.

Mr Yankah said to facilitate preparations to ensure a successful conference, a Planning and Organizing Committee has been put in place with seven sub-committees to deal with and execute all aspects related to the event.

He enumerated the sub-committees as Hospitality, Transport, Fund Raising and Sponsorship, Accreditation, Publicity, Conference Secretariat and the Kumasi (conference venue) liaison and coordination sub-committee.

"I can say with all certainty and assurance that both FAPRA and IPR-Ghana, have put all the necessary mechanisms in place towards the successful organization of the conference and everything is on course", Mr Yankah emphasized.

The last FAPRA conference was held in Kampala, Uganda, under the theme: "Africa's Diversity - Communicating the Opportunities", which was well-attended by representatives of all stakeholders and widely acclaimed as highly successful and relevant to the socio-economic development of the continent.

Source: GNA

The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Abuja Chapter will hold its 14 Annual General Meeting and conference with a variety of activities that include Family Day Celebration.

The Special Guest of Honour for the occasion is Prof. Dora Akunyili, while Prof. Pat Utomi and Chief Pini Jason are the Special Guest Lecturers among other notable personalities in the industry.

The Family Day Celebration, which will be held on Saturday November 2007 from 1pm to 6pm at Julius Berger Shooting Range Park, Off Mabushi-Kado Express will host families and friends of PR and Communications practitioners. Members of PRNigeria Online forum who are yet to be registered members of NIPR will be welcomed where they will network with others. The Family Day Celebration will feature fun, entertainment, prizes, games, discounts and lot more.

Other activities include the following:

• 
  EVENT : Social Responsibility Visit 
  VENUE : Queens Orphanage, Kubwa 
  Highlight : Interaction and Gift 
  Date : Tuesday, November 20 
  Time : 2.00pm
  
  Corporate Visit : NTA 
  Courtesy Visit to DG
  Wednesday, November 21
  11.00pm
  
  AGM/Conference
  Chelsea Hotel, Abuja
  Lectures, AGM, Election
  Thursday November 22
  10am
  
  Award/Night of Excellence
  Chelsea Hotel, Abuja
  Awards to members, Corporate Bodies and Leaders/Raffle Draw
  Friday, November 23
  7.00pm

Some of the confirmed sponsors of the events are:

v Federal Ministry of Information and Communication

v Education Trust Fund

v Nigerian Communications Commission

v Nigerian Export Promotion Council

v Julius Berger Plc

v Abuja Markets Management Limited

v National Health Insurance Scheme

v Corporate Affairs Commission

v National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control

v Timex Communication Limited

v Consumer Protection Council

v Nigerian Institute for Cultural Orientation

v De-United Foods Ltd. (Indomie Noodles)

v Starcomms

v Chelsea Hotel , Abuja


EVENTS INFO IN BULLET POINTS


FAMILY DAY CELEBRATION

Ø A five-hour programme, which terminates by 6.00pm.

Ø All Chapter members and their families are expected to attend.

Ø Target of 200 families + 600 children is envisaged.

Ø Members are encouraged to invite one extra family.

Ø Invitation cards will be available at the chapter secretariat from 9/11/07



SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY VISIT

We must take off at the chapter secretariat by 1.00pm

Ø A coaster bus will be made available for the trip to Queens orphanage, Kubwa.

Ø The chapter has procured some gift items.

Ø Members are encouraged to come along with any gift items for donation to the orphanage.

Ø Members who wish to come with their vehicles are encouraged.


CORPORATE VISIT

Restricted to Executive and AGM committee members only.



14TH ANNUAL AGM/CONFERENCE

Ø Chairman of the opening session: Mr. Nn’emeka Maduegbuna, Chairman/CEO, C& F Porter Novelli (previously Corporate & Financial Communications Limited) and President, Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria PRCAN.

Ø Guest Lecturers include: Prof. Pat Utomi and Chief Pini Jason (You know them)

Ø Strict adherence to opening time of 10.00am will be observed, please be punctual.

Ø Participation fee for Non-members ----N3000.00

Ø Participation fee for Intending members----N2500.00

Ø Participation fees for graded members (graduate, associates, members, fellows)---N7,500.00, ( made up of N2500 for AGM + N5000 for plaque) This offers you an automatic invitation to the Award/Nite of excellence where the plaques will be presented.


AWARD/NITE OF EXCELLENCE

To be chaired by Mr. Joe Musa, DG, National Gallery of Arts.

Ø Award for exemplary Corporate Governance shall be given to Engr. Earnest Ndukwe, EVC, Nigerian Communications Commission. (other award winners will be announced at the event)


For further enquiries, please contact Richard 0803-5958-795, Uzo 0803-7059-256 and Rose 0806-2696-961.
For full detail, invitation cards, membership etc you can also reach:

Uzoma Onyegbadue anipr, arpa

Vice Chairman, NIPR Abuja 2007 AGM Committee.

09-4801766, 0803-7059-256, 08051742545

Watch out from this website www.prnigeria.net for news, latest development and award winners at the AGM/Conference.

The Federal Government in a bid to ensure adequate and responsive service delivery to Nigerians, is set to launch an SMS based public enquiry, comment and polling service that will now make it possible for all Nigerians to participate directly in nation building by sending useful opinions and comments from their mobile phones nationwide.

The FG is collaborating with Private Networks Nigeria Ltd PNN, an NCC licensed telecommunications company according to its CEO, Abdulraman Adeola-Odunowo to provide the service aimed at providing Nigerians with the opportunity of acquiring information directly from government on government policies and actions.

As part of the take off of the service which begins on Tuesday, the Minister of State for Information and Communication, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki will on November 13, be participating in the testing of the Enquiry service. “Members of the public are encouraged to send their enquiries from any of the networks to the short code 33501 for the opportunity to obtain answers to their questions directly from the Honourable Minister.

“Enquiry is a service that will make it possible for any Nigerian who owns a mobile phone and can use Short Message Service (SMS), to request information on aspects of government policy that they might need quick clarification on. Typically, interested public will compose requests/ enquiries/comments and send via SMS to 33501 from their phone.”

The subscriber will receive an acknowledgement of receipt of the SMS and the dedicated ministry's information officers will then respond as soon as possible. Being a Private Public initiative, each SMS will cost N50. PNN is a private telecommunications company set up to provide various telecoms services in the telecommunications sector. It is actively involved in various aspects of the development of telecommunications in Nigeria, including the distribution of telecoms products, supply and installation of telecoms equipment, operations and maintenance of GSM and PTO facilities and provision of engineering support services and value added services.

Mrs Ibukun Odusote, the Head of IT of the FMIC confirmed that Government has been developing this solution in collaboration with PNN for over 18 months since it was becoming a major way of communicating amongst Nigerians because 40 million Nigerians now use mobile phones. Nigerians are therefore encouraged to partner with Government by taking full advantage of the technology by participating in the pilot programme from Tuesday.

_{Source: Thisday 12-11-2007}